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The Next Best Thing (2000)
Released By: Paramount Home Video   Rating: PG-13   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: Paramount Home Video
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: John Schlesinger
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Benjamin Bratt, Josef Sommer, Madonna, Rupert Everett, Michael Vartan
Published ID: 179983
UPC: 097363342243, 097363342229,
Plot: Best buddies Abbie (Madonna), a heterosexual yoga instructor, and Robert (Rupert Everett), a gay landscaper, cope with failed relationships, the approach of middle age, and the AIDS-related death of a mutual friend by sticking together as a family of choice. Drunk one night, they have sex, and when Abbie turns up pregnant, they decide to move in together and raise the child as decidedly unconventional co-parents. Flash forward several years and Abbie begins dating Ben (Benjamin Bratt), an investment banker. The new relationship causes tension between Abbie and Robert that ultimately leads to betrayal, courtroom confrontation, and a sudden denouement. Everett, a sometime writer of trashy comic novels such as {-Hello Darling, Are You Working?}, reportedly supplied the film's concept and even additional dialogue, although Tom Ropelewski is the credited screenwriter. This was pop diva Madonna's first film role since the hoopla of Evita; she supplied a highly edited hit cover of Don McLean's American Pie and one other song for the soundtrack, which was released on her own Maverick imprint. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
is it a surprise that Madonna ruined a film?
Added 9/6/2009

Just god awful!!!! Madonna cannot act worth anything!!!! She can barely make decent albums now much less act. You know Rubert only did this as a favor!!! Please!!!!!! Just sad!!!! Not even worth buying if it were 99 cents.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
The Next best Thing-to do is skip the film!
Added 6/29/2008

I saw this flick on cable while laid up sick during the holidays. This movie was like a bad LIFETIME Channel film for gay men. It's about a gay guy who has a girl for a best friend (shock, there. They complain how they can't find a good man (okay, Madonna/ OK Rupert--I'm not basing the chracters on the peoeple who play them, but, heck, they are both very attractive poeple--I hate when attactive poeple complain about "not finding someone"--could it be it's becuase their shallowness gets in their way cuase they want to find love with their eyes rather than their hearts?)

So, One night, these two "friends" have too much to drink and they sleep together (Yeah, this always happens with Gay Men, too!) She gets pregnant, the two decide to keep the kid. Fast Forward six years, Madonna's character finds a man, wants custody of the kid and Rupert fights for custody, only to find that Madonna lied to Rupert-it's not even his kid-it's from some other guy Madonna was frolicking with when the accidental=gay guy/straight girl sleep together happens. The story is basicly how bitter and selfish poeple can be, no matter if this was between a traditional Mom and Pop story, and how so many children suffer from the action's of adults.

The thing with this movie is---THE BAD ACTING--this Rupert guy is nothing special-just a tall guy that's kinda buff. Madonna's fake Accent (the two's characters are supposed to be from England) is just laughable and the fact that she's a yoga instructor and Rupert is a damn gardener is hysterical in itself--for, yeah, these occupations make oh so much $$$$ for them to live in the big houses they have.

Madonna HAS TO KNOW BY NOW SHE CAN'T ACT--can't she see this thru all the yoga and meditation she does? But, since she released the HARD CANDY cd, I also think she needs to retire from the music scene and just do charity work. Stop making movies, stop working with "hip" hop producers and making garbage music...Reflect and see it would be wrong to become a cariture of yourself....

1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Really just so-so
Added 5/25/2008

I've watched this movie twice, and I am not sure I will watch it again.
First of all, I'm one who had never had anything bad to say about Madonna's acting, but here she's really bad. She gets better and the movie progresses, it's almost distracting, because she's supposed to be the center of the attention.
Rupert Everett is fine, he looks dashing of course, like Benjamin Bratt.
But then, the movie itself is really badly done. They had the locations, the sets, and yet it's just not at all good and almost boring at times, not to mention the familiar places we've been at before and the really annoying court scenes. Just how many times do we have to see attorneys trashing innocent people?
Honestly, there is nothing new in this movie to make it worth watching more than once to convince yourself how not good it is.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
5 Stars! Thought-provoking and Deep
Added 3/9/2008

Finally, a film that is much less cynical than most love stories I've seen. Forgiveness is a rare lesson taught in Hollywood, much less TOLERANCE. The Director/Writer both illustrated an idea-- Love is what people need, not conventionality or normalcy. The parts of Rupert's grandparents show a contrast in accepting their son's lifestyle. My favorite character was the grandmother, but Madonna did her best work as well. 5 Stars for The Next Best Thing!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Debatable accent but otherwise a slice of fun
Added 2/25/2008

Who hasn't out there heard a version of American Pie? Either by Don McLean or Madonna? For this movie, Madonna did her own version of American Pie, with Rupert Everett appearing in the video, and also doing backing vocals.

The Next Best Thing teamed up Madonna & Rupert, the latter playing the exact same role he played in My Best Friend's Wedding, just more toned down. Yes, I know, Madonna is never going to be a terrific, despite her frequent attempts, but she's bearable at least. Although her accent is very dodgy in this, it's like she can't decide what the Atlantic she wants to be from.

The storyline is basically, Abbie (Madonna) is a yoga instructor, who is desperately broody. Her boyfriend, Kevin (played by Michael Vartan), is a commitment-phobe, and moves out. After a drunken night out with her gay best friend, Robert (played by Rupert), she discovers she's pregnant.

That's pretty much the storyline, the rest is really predictable. When the son turns 6, Abbie meets a new man, Benjamin Bratt, and wants to get married to him. Robert flips out, demands custody, only to discover that the son he adored isn't his. Shock horror, court case.

Pretty predictable. Rupert is brilliant, although not as OTT as he was in My Best Friend's Wedding, but it's his film. Never mind some woman who sometimes sings. Who cares? Rupert is perfect in this kinda role.

There are no extras on this DVD. Not a trailer, not even the video to American Pie. What a shame. Thankfully, it was only cheap. Not memorable. But a slice of fun anyway.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
is it a surprise that Madonna ruined a film?
Added 9/6/2009

Just god awful!!!! Madonna cannot act worth anything!!!! She can barely make decent albums now much less act. You know Rubert only did this as a favor!!! Please!!!!!! Just sad!!!! Not even worth buying if it were 99 cents.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
The Next best Thing-to do is skip the film!
Added 6/29/2008

I saw this flick on cable while laid up sick during the holidays. This movie was like a bad LIFETIME Channel film for gay men. It's about a gay guy who has a girl for a best friend (shock, there. They complain how they can't find a good man (okay, Madonna/ OK Rupert--I'm not basing the chracters on the peoeple who play them, but, heck, they are both very attractive poeple--I hate when attactive poeple complain about "not finding someone"--could it be it's becuase their shallowness gets in their way cuase they want to find love with their eyes rather than their hearts?)

So, One night, these two "friends" have too much to drink and they sleep together (Yeah, this always happens with Gay Men, too!) She gets pregnant, the two decide to keep the kid. Fast Forward six years, Madonna's character finds a man, wants custody of the kid and Rupert fights for custody, only to find that Madonna lied to Rupert-it's not even his kid-it's from some other guy Madonna was frolicking with when the accidental=gay guy/straight girl sleep together happens. The story is basicly how bitter and selfish poeple can be, no matter if this was between a traditional Mom and Pop story, and how so many children suffer from the action's of adults.

The thing with this movie is---THE BAD ACTING--this Rupert guy is nothing special-just a tall guy that's kinda buff. Madonna's fake Accent (the two's characters are supposed to be from England) is just laughable and the fact that she's a yoga instructor and Rupert is a damn gardener is hysterical in itself--for, yeah, these occupations make oh so much $$$$ for them to live in the big houses they have.

Madonna HAS TO KNOW BY NOW SHE CAN'T ACT--can't she see this thru all the yoga and meditation she does? But, since she released the HARD CANDY cd, I also think she needs to retire from the music scene and just do charity work. Stop making movies, stop working with "hip" hop producers and making garbage music...Reflect and see it would be wrong to become a cariture of yourself....

1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Really just so-so
Added 5/25/2008

I've watched this movie twice, and I am not sure I will watch it again.
First of all, I'm one who had never had anything bad to say about Madonna's acting, but here she's really bad. She gets better and the movie progresses, it's almost distracting, because she's supposed to be the center of the attention.
Rupert Everett is fine, he looks dashing of course, like Benjamin Bratt.
But then, the movie itself is really badly done. They had the locations, the sets, and yet it's just not at all good and almost boring at times, not to mention the familiar places we've been at before and the really annoying court scenes. Just how many times do we have to see attorneys trashing innocent people?
Honestly, there is nothing new in this movie to make it worth watching more than once to convince yourself how not good it is.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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